~Andrea~

Hi Kathleen, Don't forget little old Wales in the British countries there hehe. hope you enjoy it here

Started My Cousin Rachel last week and half way through. Its brilliant, so far my favourite read of the year. I'd forgotten how much I like Ddm. I also have the house on the strand on my shelf. Must read that soon. I love the way she gets inside the mind of her characters so that you see all their interior thoughts. Brilliant.

I am loving every minute of it. I reckon its going to get a high mark - possibly 9 or 10.

James and the giant peach was the first book (long book with chapters I mean) I ever read by myself and I loved it. I also loved Charlie and the chocolate factory. The only other one I read was the twits and I didn't like it. I thought it seemed really rushed and unimaginative. Rik Mayall reading George's marvellous medicine on Jackanory is an absolute TV classic.

Didn't get as much reading done on holiday as I'd expected. Finished Anne of Green Gables, really good but was glad to finish it. Now reading My Cousin Rachel, and enjoying it a lot. I haven't read any Daphne Du Maurier for years, and had forgotten how much I like this author.

I got mine today. The religious writings of Meister Echkart, 12th century monk. It looks a but dull but who knows it may surprise me. At least it may be of more interest to me than for someone with no spiritual beliefs.

Hi welcome to the site

Hi Kay, welcome to the site. Love your screen name btw

I've added it to my wanted list.

Hi Charley and welcome. You picked a great forum for your first one. I hope you enjoy it here

I think your friend may have been confusing penguin with puffin. I think puffin is the arm of penguin that publishes for children. The only Dickens that could be classed as a children's story I can think of would be A Christmas Carol. I love reading children's literature as an adult, like many people here.

Yea thanks gals

Wow that's pretty cool!

Mine would be... Alsatian vegetable tart Caesar salad Rosemary-Dijon roasted rack of lamb And I'm sure I could force down a piece of blueberry cheesecake Yum

Hi welcome, nice to have you with us I read my first Jodi picoult this year, Keeping Faith I found it enjoyable enough but won't be rushing out to buy another of her books. A lot of people here seem to rate her though. I have to admire her attention to detail though. She must do a lot of research. Look forward to chatting with you

Hi nicnic, nice to meet you Don't worry I'm sure you'll settle in quickly. It's a very friendly place.

Really enjoying Anne of Green Gables, and so far yes, very cheerful and uplifting. I love the character of Anne, she is quite charming. It's a nice contrast to Dracula.

I have now started this and I must say I am really enjoying it, even though I was a little dubious. It's a very heartening little book so far. I'm not that far in yet so I can't really comment much but I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it.

Good point. I liked Laura but yes, she did come across as weak in places especially in the area that Kylie pointed out above in a spoiler hidden comment where her reaction doesn't really make sense. I think Carmilla is a more flawed novel than Dracula. As has been pointed out already it leaves many unanswered questions. Dracula is a much tighter work. I have to disagree here. I did find Mina, and many of the characters in Dracula, 'too good to be true'. I had to suspend belief a little in order to take on their good and noble hearts. However it did not spoil the book for me and I actually enjoyed those qualities in the characters, even though I know I will never meet people like that in real life . The characters still worked.

As for British films - apparently its very hard for British film makers to get financial backing for more mainstream 'commercial' type films, I guess because the grittier stuff has more of a track record. I think it's changing a bit. It was very difficult when Peter Howitts "sliding doors" was made and they almost had to give up half way through due to lack of finance. I think things are changing though, albeit slowly. I'm sure we have some great talent, just not enough investors.

I really enjoyed that this year. My bf likes the city watch books best too. I read the first 6 or 7 discworld books in my late teens/early twenties (over a decade ago) and have been tempted to read some more now. I will focus on the city watch ones, starting with Guards Guards. The little Prince sounds fab too. I might have to add it to the TBR pile.

No but I think I would like like to read it some day. It's unlikely I will get to it any time soon though since I have so many other books in the queue.

yes Hi ii I'm Andrea, it's very nice to meet you. It sounds like you have a busy and interesting life.

Wow. I find a lot of literary fiction dull tbh.

Surely you mean you find some writers utterly dull? Or do you find all male writers gripping and interesting? I don't like Zadie Smith either btw